What are the results of radioiodine therapy after thyroid surgery and how often do I need to be checked?
As a result of the favorable radioiodine enrichment in differentiated (papillary and follicular) thyroid carcinomas, the therapy results are very good in comparison with other cancers, so that most patients have an excellent prognosis after successful radioiodine therapy. Ablation of the thyroid through radioiodine therapy (until no residual thyroid gland or metastases can be detected) and the daily intake of thyroid hormones are necessary to achieve this. In the outpatient tumor follow-up consultation, the blood controls (for serum values of the thyroid hormones and the tumor marker "thyroglobulin") as well as the ultrasound examination of soft tissues of the neck must be performed regularly.
Important: in order to prevent recurrences, thyroid hormone is given for the rest of one's life to such an extent that a slight hyper-function exists (TSH 0.01 to 0.1 mU/l).
